Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Saxo vs BDSwiss, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
When comparing the online brokers Saxo and BDSwiss, it's evident that they differ significantly in their levels of trustworthiness and regulatory credentials. Founded in 1992, Saxo boasts a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, showcasing its high reputation and reliability. As a banking institution, Saxo is distinguished by holding seven Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, signifying a firm regulatory foundation. In contrast, BDSwiss, established in 2012, holds a more modest Trust Score of 73. As it is not a bank, it possesses one Tier-1 license and lacks Tier-2 licenses, indicating a moderate level of regulatory trust.
Both Saxo and BDSwiss are not publicly traded, meaning they are not listed on any stock exchange. However, their regulatory statuses could influence potential traders' decisions. Saxo's numerous Tier-1 licenses suggest solid trust and dependability, while BDSwiss presents an average risk profile according to ForexBrokers.com ratings. This comparison highlights Saxo as a more highly-regarded option for those prioritizing regulatory backing in their online trading choices.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2012 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
Comparing commissions and fees, Saxo is the stronger value for active or high-balance traders, while BDSwiss can appeal if you want a simple account setup. Saxo earns 5/5 stars and ranks #9 of 63 in ForexBrokers.com’s Commissions and Fees category, versus BDSwiss at 4/5 stars and #31 of 63.
Saxo’s forex pricing (as of November 2023) shows average EUR/USD spreads of 1.1 pips on the Classic account (minimum about 0.9), 1.0 on Platinum (min ~0.8), and 0.9 on VIP (min ~0.7). Forex trades are commission-free; however, if you trade less than 50,000 units per month, there’s a $3 per-side ticket fee. Account minimums: Classic $0, Platinum $200,000, VIP $1,000,000. Upgrades via loyalty are possible (roughly $40M in forex volume for Platinum and ~$167M for VIP, each valid for 12 months). Saxo also waives custody fees on share trading if you opt into securities lending.
BDSwiss lists EUR/USD spreads of 1.5 pips on its Classic account, 1.2 pips on VIP, and an effective 1.3 pips on the Raw account (0.3-pip spread plus a $5 commission per side). In a head-to-head, Saxo’s Platinum and VIP tiers land closer to industry averages and can be cheaper for high-volume traders, while Saxo Classic is slightly higher than average. BDSwiss Classic is expensive by comparison, and even its Raw account’s all-in cost generally sits above Saxo’s VIP average on EUR/USD.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10-$5000 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.1 | 1.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 1.3 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts [DELETED] | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) [DELETED] | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Saxo offers a far wider range of investments than BDSwiss. Saxo lists about 70,000 tradeable symbols and 190 forex pairs, while BDSwiss has 1,081 symbols and 53 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot. A key difference is stock access: Saxo lets you buy exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges (think Apple or Vodafone), whereas BDSwiss does not offer exchange-traded shares and instead focuses on CFDs. Both brokers support copy trading. For Range of Investments, ForexBrokers.com rates Saxo 5 stars and ranks it #3 out of 63 brokers, compared with BDSwiss at 4 stars and #35.
For crypto, neither broker lets you buy actual, delivered cryptocurrencies, but both offer crypto derivatives. If you want a huge set of instruments and the ability to buy real shares alongside forex, Saxo is the stronger choice. If you mainly trade CFDs and want copy trading with a simpler catalog, BDSwiss can fit the bill.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 70000 | 1081 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 53 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Saxo and BDSwiss both tick key boxes for trading platforms and tools: each offers a free demo (paper) account, a proprietary platform, Windows desktop software, a web-based platform, copy trading, and the ability to place trades directly from charts. The biggest platform difference is MetaTrader support—BDSwiss offers both MT4 and MT5, while Saxo does not. If you rely on Expert Advisors or custom indicators, that MT4/MT5 access at BDSwiss could be decisive; if not, both brokers provide capable in-house platforms for everyday trading and charting.
In independent ratings for Trading Platforms and Tools, Saxo scores 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers, while BDSwiss earns 4 stars and ranks #24. In short, choose Saxo if you want top-tier, in-house platform quality and tool depth; choose BDSwiss if MetaTrader compatibility is a must alongside a solid proprietary platform and standard features like demo trading, chart trading, and copy trading.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade [DELETED] | ||
| ZuluTrade [DELETED] | ||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | ||
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields [DELETED] |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Saxo and BDSwiss both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts and real-time watchlists, and both will auto-save your chart drawings. The big usability difference is watchlist syncing: Saxo syncs symbols between the app and your web account so changes carry over, while BDSwiss does not.
For charting on the go, Saxo provides 64 built-in technical studies compared with 30 on BDSwiss, and both let you draw trendlines. In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, Saxo’s mobile app earned 5 stars and ranked #2 out of 63 brokers, while BDSwiss received 4 stars and ranked #24—making Saxo the stronger pick if you want deeper tools and tighter integration across devices.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | ||
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing Saxo and BDSwiss for market research offerings, Saxo clearly distinguishes itself with several key advantages. Both brokers provide daily market commentary and maintain an economic calendar to keep traders informed of global news events. However, Saxo surpasses BDSwiss in providing forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, a feature that BDSwiss lacks. While both platforms offer tools from Autochartist, Saxo also includes a sentiment-based trading tool to better gauge market positions, which BDSwiss does not offer. These enhanced research capabilities contribute to Saxo's top rating and number one ranking in the research category among 63 brokers.
On the other hand, BDSwiss does provide unique value with its access to research tools from Trading Central, which Saxo does not include. Despite this advantage, BDSwiss is rated slightly lower with four stars for research compared to Saxo's five stars. Additionally, BDSwiss ranks at number 24 in the research category by ForexBrokers.com, indicating that although it provides solid resources, it does not quite match the comprehensive offerings and superior ranking that Saxo achieves in this domain.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Saxo vs BDSwiss for beginner education: both brokers host online client webinars at least once a month and each offers 10+ beginner videos plus 10+ advanced videos, so you can learn step by step and then move into more complex topics. Independent ratings from ForexBrokers.com give Saxo 5 stars for Education and a #13 ranking out of 63 brokers, while BDSwiss earns 4 stars and ranks #22, suggesting Saxo has a slight edge for overall learning quality.
Some details weren’t specified, including whether either broker provides 10+ pieces focused on forex or CFD education overall, a searchable archive of past webinars, or an investor dictionary with 50+ terms. If those features matter to you, check each broker’s education hub. For most beginners who want frequent webinars and plenty of videos, both platforms can work well, with Saxo likely the better pick if you want the highest-rated education experience.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | ||
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) [DELETED] | ||
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) [DELETED] |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Saxo is better than BDSwiss. Saxo finished with an overall rank of #3, while BDSwiss finished with an overall rank of #36.
Saxo is an exclusive multi-asset broker with brilliant research and a superb trading platform experience – as well as a stunning selection of over 40,000 securities.
| Feature |
Saxo
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BDSwiss
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
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Both Saxo and BDSwiss allow investors to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither platform provides the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrencies, offering traders a robust, yet limited, exposure to the crypto market.
Saxo vs BDSwiss: For deposits and withdrawals, BDSwiss supports ACH/SEPA and Skrill while Saxo does not, both brokers allow bank wire transfers, and neither offers PayPal.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | BDSwiss Review |
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| Regulation | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2012 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 70000 | 1081 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 53 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.1 | 1.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 1.3 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10-$5000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Saxo Review | BDSwiss Review |
| Overall | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | BDSwiss Review |
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